WALES will be hailed a big cat hotspot when figures from an "extraordinary year" of sightings are released this month.

WALES will be hailed a big cat hotspot when figures from an "extraordinary year" of sightings are released this month.

The British Big Cats Society based at Dartmoor Wildlife Park says the idea of wild cats roaming our countryside is being taken seriously for the first time as bodies like the National Farmers' Union and Defra come on board.

A forthcoming document will also map areas where big cats have been released since 1976 - including Wales.

Last year Wales ranked fourth in the list of places in Britain where locals claim to have spotted a big cat, with 86 reported sightings in 2002.

But it is tipped to record even higher figures for 2003, to be released at the end of March.

The society is in its fourth year and has already recorded an astonishing 1,746 sightings across the UK - including 1,077 in 2002 alone.

Last year was an "extraordinary year," according to BBCS founder Danny Bamping, 29, a wildlife cameraman based in Plymouth.

Data collected has been vast due to the number of external contributors, such as the NFU, RSPCA, wildlife trusts, several police forces and Defra.

"We are delighted with recent events - the NFU has pledged its full support to us and Defra has now invited us to give a presentation," said Mr Bamping.

"Hopefully working alongside the right organisations and authorities we can start to push for a properly funded study on the Big Cats in Britain."